Russia, US plan unprecedented nuclear cut

Moscow: Russia and the United States plan unprecedented cuts to their Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons under a new arms reduction deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying Tuesday.

The two largest nuclear powers have been trying to find a replacement for the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start I), which led to the biggest reduction in nuclear weapons in history, but have so far failed to reach a deal.

Offensive weapons

"The treaty will stipulate a radical and unprecedented reduction in strategic offensive weapons," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

Cutting the vast arsenals of nuclear weapons built during the Cold War is the centrepiece of US President Barack Obama's efforts to "reset" relations with Russia, which the United States is pressing to offer more help on Afghanistan and Iran.

Russia and the United States failed to agree on a successor to Start I by December 5, when the treaty was due to expire, and have extended it as they search for a new agreement.

Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev failed to clinch a deal when they met on the sidelines of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen. No reason was given, although they said they were close to an agreement.

Under a preliminary understanding agreed by the two presidents in July, the new treaty will reduce operationally deployed nuclear warheads to between at least 1,500 and 1,675, a cut of about one-third from current levels.

Lavrov, whose ministry is leading talks along with the US State Department, said negotiations in Geneva would resolve remaining issues after the Christmas and New Year holidays.

"The delegations will resolve the remaining questions after the New Year break," Lavrov was quoted as saying.